C-SPAN salutes Saint Mark's eighth-grader for political documentary

Ben Blum's documentary on government surveillance was so compelling, C-SPAN sent its bus to visit the 13-year-old filmmaker.

Blum, an eighth-grader at Saint Mark's School in San Rafael, was one of 150 middle and high school students from around the country chosen as winners of C-SPAN's StudentCam competition. C-SPAN, a nonprofit cable channel that broadcasts federal government proceedings and public affairs programs, instructed entrants to focus on a topic they believe Congress should address in 2014.

Blum's seven-minute documentary, "Data Obsession," explores the constitutionality of the National Security Agency's surveillance efforts on the general public.

"I'm just really interested in government surveillance," Blum said. "I think it's a huge issue that needs to be addressed."

With nearly the entire school attending an assembly in the Saint Mark's gym, Blum was honored by C-SPAN representatives, as well as local politicians.

A representative from the office of Assemblyman Mark Levine, D-San Rafael, presented a certificate to Blum. San Rafael City Councilman Damon Connolly proclaimed March 28 as Benjamin Blum Day. And the 13-year-old was given a poster-sized check, representing his $1,500 prize from C-SPAN.

"It's really awesome," Blum said about his documentary's accolades. "I'm getting all this press, from around the world even."

After the assembly, Saint Mark's students visited the C-SPAN bus, which is touring the country, as C-SPAN representatives try to visit as many of the prize winners as they can reach.

C-SPAN spokeswoman LaShawna Saint-Preux said the video submissions — 2,355 in all — hit on a range of current affairs, such as gun control and same-sex marriage. The videos had to be five to seven minutes long and include C-SPAN footage.

"Ben's video really stood out because you could tell he really thought it through," Saint-Preux said. "It definitely showed a lot of critical thinking."

Blum said he has been making videos since he was 7 years old. Shortly after, he started his first YouTube channel. His current YouTube channel, named "Thought Point," has more than 3,900 subscribers.

He garnered popularity for the channel with his "first taste" videos, in which he would sample candies from other countries and review them. Now he is more focused on "subject of the minute," through which he spends a minute or two discussing trivia-worthy facts or current affairs.

"He's always been interested in media and making video," said his father, Ken Blum.

In fourth grade, Blum dressed up as Google, and when a picture of him in costume reached the Internet giant's offices, the image ended up on Google's home page.

"That was the happiest Halloween he ever had," said his mother, Vinesa Blackwell.

Blum said he isn't currently working on a documentary, but it probably won't be long before he gets behind the camera again.

"I have a few ideas in mind," he said.

Those include a documentary about North Korea, and another with the working title, "How to Buy a Country."